St Teresa's Work
St Teresa did very significant work that impacted her times and still impacts today. She reformed the Carmelite church and brought it back to focusing on religion, prayer and the primitive rule like it had previously been. At this time, the Carmelite order was a place of activity and were not devout religious people living simply and by the primitive rule. This was because women would either get married or join a convent and because most men in Avila at this time would be travelling to places such as Argentina, there were not many men so as a result the women going into the church were not devout religious people. St Teresa however, reformed the Carmelites to live simply and concentrate on prayer and meditation.
After twenty-five years, in the Carmelite convent, Teresa established a small, humble convent in Avila called St Joseph’s and this was the beginning of many other convents to be established. St Teresa, then reformed the Carmelite order (with her niece and a few other nuns) to the discalced Carmelites which literally means ‘without shoes’ and wore sandals, not shoes. This reveals that St Teresa lived a very simple and monastic life and was not involved in luxuries of the world as she would go without shoes. At first, the main order (the Carmelite order) opposed to St Teresa’s reform but after several years of disagreement, the Discalced Carmelites became a different order. At this time many charges were taking place to the church as this was the time of Protestant Reformation where the Catholic Church was found to be very corrupt. St Teresa also found that some of the church was corrupt and tried to bring it back to focusing on the primitive rule so the Catholic Church would not be found corruptive. Because St Teresa was unable to remain in this place of prayer, for her 15 remaining years of her life, she embarked across Spain, establishing new convents and following her reform vision of the Discalced Carmelite life. Altogether, around seventeen convents of women and men accepted her reform. Her life of contemplative prayer and the pursuit of Christian perfection never flagged during those years.
St Teresa did very significant work that impacted her times and still impacts today. She reformed the Carmelite church and brought it back to focusing on religion, prayer and the primitive rule like it had previously been. At this time, the Carmelite order was a place of activity and were not devout religious people living simply and by the primitive rule. This was because women would either get married or join a convent and because most men in Avila at this time would be travelling to places such as Argentina, there were not many men so as a result the women going into the church were not devout religious people. St Teresa however, reformed the Carmelites to live simply and concentrate on prayer and meditation.
After twenty-five years, in the Carmelite convent, Teresa established a small, humble convent in Avila called St Joseph’s and this was the beginning of many other convents to be established. St Teresa, then reformed the Carmelite order (with her niece and a few other nuns) to the discalced Carmelites which literally means ‘without shoes’ and wore sandals, not shoes. This reveals that St Teresa lived a very simple and monastic life and was not involved in luxuries of the world as she would go without shoes. At first, the main order (the Carmelite order) opposed to St Teresa’s reform but after several years of disagreement, the Discalced Carmelites became a different order. At this time many charges were taking place to the church as this was the time of Protestant Reformation where the Catholic Church was found to be very corrupt. St Teresa also found that some of the church was corrupt and tried to bring it back to focusing on the primitive rule so the Catholic Church would not be found corruptive. Because St Teresa was unable to remain in this place of prayer, for her 15 remaining years of her life, she embarked across Spain, establishing new convents and following her reform vision of the Discalced Carmelite life. Altogether, around seventeen convents of women and men accepted her reform. Her life of contemplative prayer and the pursuit of Christian perfection never flagged during those years.
St Teresa's Writings
St Teresa wrote thousands of letters, to instruct and inspire but are also about the construction of new convents. The books she wrote describes her journeys and the convents she reformed and are still read today. Books include-
-The Way of Perfection
- The Book of Foundations
- Interior Castle.
To Learn More about St Teresa's Writings go to the more information page.
St Teresa wrote thousands of letters, to instruct and inspire but are also about the construction of new convents. The books she wrote describes her journeys and the convents she reformed and are still read today. Books include-
-The Way of Perfection
- The Book of Foundations
- Interior Castle.
To Learn More about St Teresa's Writings go to the more information page.